Tricks for a happy road trip

In-car games can make travel more fun

By Alexandra Straub, The Province

Originally published: June 7, 2011

Regardless of the time of year, ’tis the season for road trips. And with the summer fast approaching, families are gearing up and getting ready to hit the highways in pursuit of holiday destinations.

But there is more than just trip planning and appropriate packing associated with vehicular vacations. There’s also keeping kids entertained for extended periods of time.

Not all vehicles, fortunately or unfortunately, come equipped with the latest technological gadgets that kids gravitate to for their amusement. So what to do? Here are some great tips to help pass the time, have fun, and learn a few things along the way.

Janey Cunningham, a Vancouver-based marriage and family therapist, observes: “Being in small spaces for a long period of time can be challenging for kids.” So, she adds, “Encourage interaction and participation to bring everyone together.”

Sounds good, but what are some ways to encourage interaction and participation?

Singing songs is No. 1 on her list, as music is a great way to bring the whole family together. Because different members will have different tastes, creating a communal playlist on an MP3 player or a CD before hitting the road can help eliminate the need for personal music players. Asking each member to contribute their favourite songs makes everybody’s voices heard.

Along the lines of interaction and participation, Cunningham encourages parents to give kids as much of an opportunity to be a part of the decision-making process as possible. For example, give children options to see certain landmarks in various cities, or to pick what kind of food to have for lunch, etc.

Growing up, Cunningham recalls frequently road-tripping with her family. “We would go on road trips anywhere from three to five times a year.

“We also did a six-week tour across Canada, and a six-week tour of twelve countries across Europe.”

How did her parents keep six kids entertained? Her mom taught everyone how to crochet! All the kids could pick their colours they wanted to use, and at the end of the trip, the parts would be sewn together to make a large afghan.

“The blanket wasn’t the most attractive thing in the world, but it meant a lot to everyone because we all helped make it.”

Crocheting aside, road trip games are another fun way to pass the time. Before rushing out to your local toy store, check out http://www.momsminivan.com for some free downloadable games. My personal favourite is road-trip bingo.

Depending on what part of the world you are road tripping in, adding an educational element to the mix is always a good idea. If travelling across Canada, why not quiz your kids about all the provinces, territories and capital cities?

Furthermore, reciting times tables, interesting facts about the region or reading up on your future destinations will help stimulate their young brains. And yours too!

When on the road, Cunningham stresses the importance of rituals. Hav i n g kids pick their seats that they’ll be in for the day or for the duration of the trip allows for familiarity when travelling places they have not gone before. Also, having morning meetings to let everyone know what the plan for the day is keeps everyone on the same page.

For those little (or big!) individuals who just have to have their tech toys along for the journey, Cunningham recommends using time frames or windows in which electronics can be used. After the time lapses, the electronics are put away until their next window appears. And if the fuss continues, do as my mom did and just throw the technology out the window. May my Sony Walkman rest in peace.